Means of fuel and oxidizer storage

• US 20110017874A1
• Filed: 09/28/2010
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ClearValue Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ClearValue Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Haase, Richard Alan
• Application Number:
  US12/924,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20110017874A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/172.2
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/402 Propellant tanks; Feeding propellants
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/42 Arrangements or adaptations of power supply systems
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/421 Non-solar power generation
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/422 Nuclear power generation
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/423 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/426 Flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/44 using radiation, e.g. deployable solar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 25/005 the working fluid being steam, created by combustion of hydrogen with oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 7/025 Consecutive expansion in a turbine or a positive displacement engine

Abstract

The instant invention relates to improved means for the storage of H₂ and O₂, wherein the H₂ and/or the O₂ is stored on a vessel, ship or other non-Earth body in Space, whether manned or unmanned. Further, the instant invention relates to improved means for the storage of fuel, preferably hydrogen (H₂) and oxidizer, preferably oxygen (O₂), wherein the H₂ and O₂ are obtained from at least one storage tank or obtained by electrolysis of water (H₂O). The instant invention does not require a hydrocarbon fuel source. H₂O is the primary product of combustion; while in many embodiments of the instant invention, H₂O is separated into H₂ and O₂, thereby making H₂O an efficient method of storing fuel and oxidizer.

Claims

1. A method of fuel and oxidizer storage, wherein

at least one of the fuel and the oxidizer volatilize, wherein

rotating mechanical energy powers liquefaction, wherein

the rotating mechanical energy is created by at least one of:

an engine powered by the fuel and the oxidizer,

a fuel cell powered by the fuel and the oxidizer,

an electric motor powered by a fuel cell powered by the fuel and the oxidizer, and

an electric motor, wherein the electricity is created by PV or a PV Array, wherein

the volatiles from at least one of the fuel and the oxidizer have at least one flow through the liquefaction, wherein

the at least one flow is liquefied by the liquefaction, and wherein

heat rejection is performed from the flow by at least one of;

radiation, and

heat exchange with a heat rejection fluid.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the storage is located in or on at least one of a:

Space Ship, a Space Vessel, and Non-Earth Body.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of

said fuel comprises H₂, and

said oxidizer comprises O₂.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of

said heat rejection fluid comprises N₂, and

said heat rejection fluid comprises liquefaction.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

at least one heat transfer fluid, and

at least one heat transfer fluid comprising N₂.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said radiation or said heat exchange is performed within said flow downstream of a compressor or a Joule Thompson Effect.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of

said heat rejection fluid rejects heat by radiation, and

said heat rejection fluid rejects heat to at least one of a:

Space Ship, Space Vessel and Non-Earth Body by conduction and the Space Ship, Space Vessel or Non-Earth Body rejects said heat by radiation.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said liquefaction comprises at least one compressor for each flow and/or fluid.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of:

the engine is a turbine, and

the exhaust of said engine turns at least one steam turbine.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the exhaust from said steam turbine(s) comprises a pressure of about 15 psia or less.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said steam turbine(s) create said rotating mechanical energy.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of:

said engine and said steam turbine(s) comprise a common rotating shaft, and

said engine, said steam turbine(s) and at least one liquefaction compressor comprise a common rotating shaft.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

a generator creating electricity, wherein

the generator is at least partially driven by said engine.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising

a generator creating electricity, wherein

the generator is at least partially driven by said steam turbine(s).

15. The method of claim 13 or 14, wherein

said electricity created by said generator is at least a portion of said electricity.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising at least one of:

insulating said engine, and

insulating said steam turbine(s).

17. The method of claim 9, further comprising

H₂O comprising at least one selected from a list consisting of a:

corrosion inhibitor, chelant, dispersant, electrolyte and any combination therein.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the exhaust of at least one of said engine and said steam turbine(s) is recycled to said engine or said steam turbine(s).

19. A Space Ship, comprising

a fuel storage tank, an oxidizer storage tank and a liquefaction unit, wherein

at least one of the fuel and the oxidizer volatilize, wherein

rotating mechanical energy powers the liquefaction unit, wherein

the rotating mechanical energy is created by at least one of:

an engine powered by the fuel and the oxidizer,

a fuel cell powered by the fuel and the oxidizer,

an electric motor powered by a fuel cell powered by the fuel and the oxidizer, and

an electric motor powered by PV or a PV Array;

wherein

the volatiles from at least one of the fuel and the oxidizer have at least one flow through the liquefaction unit, wherein

the at least one flow is liquefied by the liquefaction unit, and wherein

heat rejection is performed from the flow by at least one of

a radiation unit comprising the flow, and

a heat exchanger comprising a heat rejection fluid.

20. The Space Ship of claim 19, wherein at least one of

said fuel comprises H₂, and

said oxidizer comprises O₂.

21. The Space Ship of claim 19, wherein at least one of

said heat rejection fluid is N₂, and

said heat rejection fluid management comprises liquefaction.

22. The Space Ship of claim 19, further comprising at least one of:

a heat transfer fluid, and

a heat transfer fluid comprising N₂.

23. The Space Ship of claim 19, wherein

said liquefaction comprises at least one compressor for each flow and/or fluid.

24. The Space Ship of claim 19, wherein at least one of

said heat rejection fluid rejects heat by radiation, and

said heat rejection fluid rejects heat to the Space Ship and the Space Ship rejects said heat by radiation.

25. The Space Ship of claim 19, wherein at least one of

said combustion engine is a turbine, and

the exhaust of said combustion engine turns at least one steam turbine.

26. The Space Ship of claim 25, wherein said engine and said steam turbine(s) comprise a common drive shaft.

27. The Space Ship of claim 21, further comprising at least one of:

a generator creating electricity, wherein the generator is at least partially driven by said engine, and

a generator creating electricity, wherein the generator is at least partially driven by said steam turbine(s).

29. The Space Ship of claim 25, further comprising at least one of:

insulating said engine, and

insulating at least one of said steam turbine(s).

30. The Space Ship of claim 19, wherein said radiation or said heat exchange is performed within said flow downstream of a compressor or a Joule Thompson Effect.

31. The Space Ship of claim 19, wherein

a device measures pressure in at least one of said storage tanks, wherein

the pressure measuring device sends a signal to a controller, and wherein

the controller determines at least one of:

rpm of at least one compressor in said liquefaction unit,

rpm of said engine, and then determines

amount of said fuel or of said oxidizer sent to said engine or to said fuel cell.

28. The Space Ship of claim 28, wherein

at least a portion of said electricity created by said generator is at least a portion of said electricity.